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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.John Willey." <phyllis.hall@att.net>
Reply-To: fedexmanager2@whitianga.com
Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:18:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: VERY URGENT
Dear Friend ,
Since i waited so long without hearing from you regarding your confirmable draft worth of $900.000.00,I went ahead and cashed the money and registered it with Transworld courier service as box of African clothes with instruction to deliver it to you upon your contact to their office,I am leaving today to another country for three months course.You can contact them now to avoid them delaying with the box.
Bear in mind that i have paid all the charges they requested,Both mailing charges and insurance.All you need to do is to pay their security keeping fee of 45USD,I would have paid it before leaving but they insisted that it will be paid by you since they don't know when you will be contacting them.Below is their contact details remember that I registered it as African clothes donot allow them know that it content its money if not they may delay you more and charge you more know that the only money you are suposed to pay them is the keeping fee of 45USD:
Contact Person : Jean.A. Asogba
Email Address : fedexmanager2@whitianga.com
Remember to reconfirm your postal address to them and you can update me as soon as you receive the draft via email.
Regards,
Mr.John Willey.
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Anti-fraud resources:
